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NAPLES, Fla. (Sept. 21, 2021) – Erika Donalds, president and CEO of The Optima Foundation was recognized as a Change-Maker in the Business Observer’s 2021 Big Book of Business for facilitating and leading sustainable change within her organization and community. For Donalds, the focus on change has been steered toward supporting the establishment and expansion of Hillsdale College Barney Charter School Initiative classical academies and other schools of excellence across the state of Florida. When selecting this year’s Change-Makers, the Business Observer sought leaders who are risk-takers, visionary thinkers and have a willingness to challenge the status quo. “The people and companies featured in our new Big Book of Business are truly at the top of their industry and are leading change to help transform their communities and make them better places to live and do business,” said Kat Hughes, executive editor of the Business Observer. Through The Optima Foundation, Donalds paved the way for the creation of the Naples Classical Academy, a tuition-free classical curriculum K-12 charter school in North Naples that receives academic support from Hillsdale College through its Barney Charter School Initiative. Naples Classical Academy is the third classical academy charter school The Optima Foundation has opened. Optima also launched and manages Jacksonville Classical Academy and Treasure Coast Classical Academy. The Optima Foundation has two additional schools under development for the 2022-23 school year: Jacksonville Classical Academy East and Optima Classical Academy, a virtual school that will be open to all Florida students. Optima’s classical education model offers students a sound curriculum based on the traditions of the liberal arts and sciences, with instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue. “We are educating parents about what’s possible and we are raising the bar on what’s possible,” said Donalds. “Public schools have been a monopoly for years, for decades, and parents really didn’t know they had other options.” Donalds’ professional background and passion for education led her to seek election to the Collier County School Board in 2014. During her tenure, she co-founded the Florida Coalition of School Board Members and served as the group’s President from 2015-16. She was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to serve on his administration’s Transition Advisory Committee for Education and Workforce Development in 2018. She recently launched the School Choice Movement, a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to securing universal education choice for all families in Florida. The Optima Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, founded to support the establishment and expansion of superior quality schools of choice. Optima’s goal is the successful launch of Hillsdale College Barney Charter School Initiative classical academies and other schools of excellence across the state of Florida. Its current classical schools serve kindergarten through 12th grade, with the mission to train the minds and improve the hearts of young people through a content-rich classical education in the liberal arts and sciences, with instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue. For more information, visit OptimaEd.org. -30- Contact: Jennifer Hamilton, Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold Marketing and Public Relations, 239-275-5758, Jennifer@GSMA.pro Erika Donalds, The Optima Foundation president and CEO
NAPLES, Fla. (Sept. 21, 2021) – Erika Donalds, president and CEO of The Optima Foundation was recognized as a Change-Maker in the Business Observer’s 2021 Big Book of Business for facilitating and leading sustainable change within her organization and community.
For Donalds, the focus on change has been steered toward supporting the establishment and expansion of Hillsdale College Barney Charter School Initiative classical academies and other schools of excellence across the state of Florida.
When selecting this year’s Change-Makers, the Business Observer sought leaders who are risk-takers, visionary thinkers and have a willingness to challenge the status quo.
“The people and companies featured in our new Big Book of Business are truly at the top of their industry and are leading change to help transform their communities and make them better places to live and do business,” said Kat Hughes, executive editor of the Business Observer.
Through The Optima Foundation, Donalds paved the way for the creation of the Naples Classical Academy, a tuition-free classical curriculum K-12 charter school in North Naples that receives academic support from Hillsdale College through its Barney Charter School Initiative. Naples Classical Academy is the third classical academy charter school The Optima Foundation has opened. Optima also launched and manages Jacksonville Classical Academy and Treasure Coast Classical Academy. The Optima Foundation has two additional schools under development for the 2022-23 school year: Jacksonville Classical Academy East and Optima Classical Academy, a virtual school that will be open to all Florida students.
Optima’s classical education model offers students a sound curriculum based on the traditions of the liberal arts and sciences, with instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue.
“We are educating parents about what’s possible and we are raising the bar on what’s possible,” said Donalds. “Public schools have been a monopoly for years, for decades, and parents really didn’t know they had other options.”
Donalds’ professional background and passion for education led her to seek election to the Collier County School Board in 2014. During her tenure, she co-founded the Florida Coalition of School Board Members and served as the group’s President from 2015-16. She was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to serve on his administration’s Transition Advisory Committee for Education and Workforce Development in 2018. She recently launched the School Choice Movement, a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to securing universal education choice for all families in Florida.
The Optima Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, founded to support the establishment and expansion of superior quality schools of choice. Optima’s goal is the successful launch of Hillsdale College Barney Charter School Initiative classical academies and other schools of excellence across the state of Florida. Its current classical schools serve kindergarten through 12th grade, with the mission to train the minds and improve the hearts of young people through a content-rich classical education in the liberal arts and sciences, with instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue. For more information, visit OptimaEd.org.
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Contact: Jennifer Hamilton, Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold Marketing and Public Relations, 239-275-5758, Jennifer@GSMA.pro
Erika Donalds, The Optima Foundation president and CEO